Radio recommendations

vinnieTy

vinnieTy

TY # 1889
In search of a new radio for my truck and just curious what radio brands people recommend. Im shopping around for a single din radio with some nice features. I always like Pioneer and that is what i was reading up on. What are your thoughts and comments.

Thanks
 
fauXGT

fauXGT

Brick Pilot
Re: Radio recommendations

I'd have to agree with DaveP.
The first Alpine I had lasted 22 years and 60k miles. The internal preamp went out and was looking for a donor deck for parts being it still looks new.
The replacement is the latest series w/ bluetooth and USB also.
With the infrequency of driving that vehicle, I opted for HD radio rather than satellite. Sounds great. :2cents:
 
hatrik8

hatrik8

Donating Member
Re: Radio recommendations

Not that it matters now, since you already decided, but I was going to say Pioneer. I have two Pioneer Premier single din units, both the same model. One is in my daily and the other in my SY. I've had them for years. I chose the one I have because I could connect a plain usb stick with all my music. I agree with what Dave P said, familiarity is nice. If I had a different deck in my SY I would never remember how to use it since I drive it so infrequently :tdown:
 
S

Static

Member
Re: Radio recommendations

That actually is a nice radio. I used to swear by Pioneer. I was a dealer during the early 2000. I started having issues with the right rear channel across many models including 3 of my own in different vehicles. I like to get hands on with a piece of equipment and listen to it over different speakers to see how well it reproduces sound.
 
wildphil

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Radio recommendations

DaveP said:
I'm an Alpine fan. I've had about 10 of them over the past 2 decades. I had 3 of the same model in my personal cars for about 6 years. Then I wanted Bluetooth for the Super Duty, so I bought the current Alpine for it. I so liked the Bluetooth, and the features (USB) , I bought another one for the DD. I just ordered a third unit of the same model for the Typhoon which is going back in service as my run-around car. So I'll be back to 3 of the same model in my regular cars. Why do I like them to all be the same model?

Menu structure and familiarity is very important to me. The unit can be jammed with features, but if the menu or button-push sequence is not intuitive, you'll ever use them, if you can find what you want in the first place. Like setting the clock. I've encountered units in clients' boats that I gave up on trying to set the clock, because I couldn't find it. IMO, Sony is the worst. I sometimes can't even turn a Sony on. Can't find the power button. By equipping all my cars with the same model I become very proficient with all of them, and I'm not frustrated by not being able to remember "where something is".

So pick one you're familiar with so the operation is intuitive. You'll enjoy more of the features regardless of the make, because you'll be able to access them without getting out the manual every time you want to do something. Like set the clock.

I've heard Kenwood is pretty good. And that Sony has become chinee chit. I like my Alpines. They became obsolete so I changed them out, but only one actually developed an issue that required it to be replaced after 8 years and 200K miles in service. Much like the unit you're now replacing because it developed noise issues after 7 years in service. Not bad.
Click to expand...

I have been wanting to try Alpine. I need a radio in my Sy. Checked Crutchfiels and they do not show any alpines that fit it. Maybe it is because a installation kit is used and they don't have it for our trucks. Were did you get yours at?
 
autoaddictions

autoaddictions

Active member
Re: Radio recommendations

Vinny this is whats in my syclone!!



If you or anybody else wants one Im a Alpine dealer can do them at 240.00 retails for 350.00!!
 
vinnieTy

vinnieTy

TY # 1889
Re: Radio recommendations

wildphil said:
I have been wanting to try Alpine. I need a radio in my Sy. Checked Crutchfiels and they do not show any alpines that fit it. Maybe it is because a installation kit is used and they don't have it for our trucks. Were did you get yours at?
Click to expand...

I don't recall where i got the current kit that's in my truck because its been about 7 years now but they do exist. I plan to use the same one as my current radio is a single din and the new radio is the same.

EDIT: this looks like the kit i have. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/metra-r...ect-vehicles-black/9123058.p?id=1218117385131
 
wildphil

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Radio recommendations

How far does it stick out away from the dash. I don't know if I would like that at all.

Or do you just see the front plate and not the edge.
 
rex113

rex113

New member
Re: Radio recommendations

DaveP said:
Yes, that's the one to use. There are others, but the Metra is my favorite. A Google search with the Metra number should get a zillion hits. I didn't try.

I also paint the bezel kit with a vinyl paint I found that is very close to the IP gray color. It makes the install look more "finished" and less-obtrusive than leaving the thing black.
Click to expand...

Dave, would you be kind enough to post a photo of your alpine with the painted Metra bezel kit,because it sounds like what i am looking for.
 
S

Static

Member
Re: Radio recommendations

wildphil said:
How far does it stick out away from the dash. I don't know if I would like that at all.

Or do you just see the front plate and not the edge.
Click to expand...

The kit that was on the truck when I purchased it had the radio sticking out like an inch or more. Hated it! I didn't use the extension piece that came with this kit. Probably made a few other small alterations I don't remember.

Off topic: I can see that my ash tray does not match now :rant:

2015-12-03%2015.48.22.jpg


2015-12-03%2015.48.14.jpg
 
rex113

rex113

New member
Re: Radio recommendations

DaveP said:
I really wish I could. I spent an hour on it, and I give up. I just took beautiful pics of both DesertSy and the DD that have painted bezels with Alpines. The pics are in my Cannon, and I can't go further.

I used to be able to snap a pic, put it in my XP desktop computer, upload it to Photobucket, link it into a post, and share it with ya'll. From the time I picked up the camera, to the time the post was finished was less than 5 minutes total. I did it this way for YEARS.

That was then.
This is Today:

I can no longer get on the internet with the XP machine. I've been using this Winddoze8 POS Tablet for about 3 months. What a totally frustrating experience. 10 seconds doesn't go by, and something unexpected, or non-commanded happens. Sometimes I can't even figure out how to get back to where I was. It's been 3 months of this shit, and I'm really surprised I haven't thrown this piece of crap on the f ucking floor. I've gotten better at recovery, but come ON. Every damn 10 seconds it does something I don't want it to do.

I had a driver for my Cannon here for a few days, but it stopped working. I still haven't been successful with getting this POS to recognize the camera again. I just tried to use the internal camera in the tablet, but that didn't work either.

Things I used to do effortlessly I now can't do at all. This is "progress"?

Someday I'll figure out how to get the XP machine back online.
Sorry, I tried.
Click to expand...
Thank you for trying:tup:
 
D

Damian

Member
Re: Radio recommendations

Alpine radios are awsome, but another one I've tried that had amazing adjustability to it was a Kenwood Excelon.
 
autoaddictions

autoaddictions

Active member
Re: Radio recommendations

here is what mine looks like I modified a dash kit to get a flush look. I can do this for anybody that wants one!!

 
R

Rice Eater

New member
Re: Radio recommendations

I searched for a while and found a nice old Alpine 1.5 DIN for my Ty. Fits the opening perfect and there is a sticky in the radio section that walks you through adding an iPod interface.

Chris
 
S

Static

Member
Re: Radio recommendations

DaveP said:
That looks nice. I like it.

I don't know about the Sony, but an Alpine 148 or 149 will require modifying the A/C duct for clearance at the rear. I've done it, and seen trucks its been done to, but I don't like it. To each their own.

One other comment on something obscure. The buttons on aftermarket radios are tiny. It requires precision finger placement, or you punch the wrong thing. Especially in bouncy trucks. The little ledge above the radio, where the Metra "sticks out" gives a place to rest a finger or two so your hand is more steady. Especially on the volume knob. On an Alpine, if you punch the knob in, it goes into tone controls or search.

This is a constant annoyance in the Super Duty. There's no place to steady my hand, it's a long reach, and the truck is bouncy. I'm constantly accidentally pushing the button in and changing the mode when I go to adjust volume. In the SD, I use the remote a lot because of this. Like anything, we get used to what we have to do. In the S-10's, the little ledge helps me. The SD doesn't have one.

That's a nice install.
Click to expand...

Thanks. The Sony definitely required modification of the a/c duct. I used a heat gun to soften it and then gently pressed the handle of a hammer in the few spots and while it was still soft I pressed the radio into the dash and let it cool. I could have used the spacer and been ok. I really wanted to use this radio since it is one of the few that actually have three 5 volt pre outs and a 10 band eq. Whats nice is instead of fumbling around with the buttons on the face (which I agree with DaveP here, too tiny) I can access nearly all of the radios features from my smartphone. I adjust the eq with my finger like on an old home stereo. Not that I do this while driving tho. I hardly ever actually touch the face anymore either. I just use the remote to control volume and track skip. Dont even take my eyes off the road.

Theres a neat little video here that shows off the smartphone app features.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sony.evc.app.launcher&hl=en
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top